This is a periodic re-read. I pick it up again every few years to see if my impression of it has changed -- I first read it as a middle schooler because I would weekly scan the scifi/fantasy sections for books about girls, or even better, girl teenagers, and initially thought this fell under that category. (This wasn't any kind of deliberate feminist conviction at work. I just was completely uninterested (for the most part) in boy-stories. Same reason I didn't read LotR until I was required for a college course -- and because no one told me about Eowyn.) I was disappointed in that regard, but it's still an interesting book.


William Gibson's IDORU:

(This trilogy goes: Virtual Light, Idoru, All Tomorrow's Parties. I've only read the last two.)


Somewhere in Tokyo the aging rock star Rez of Lo/Rez fame announces he's going to marry Rei Toei. But the Japanese idol singer doesn't exist; not really, not as a person. She is a hologram, a software agent, a completely artificial construct and component of pop culture.

Chia Pet MacKenzie, a fourteen-year-old member of the Lo/Rez Seattle chapter, boards a plane with the urging of other fans that she must determine the truth of the rumor and, if possible, keep the marriage from happening. Among her fellow passengers is Colin Laney, former researcher for celebrity gossip channel Slitscan. He's on his way to a job interview, hoping that his uncanny rapport with the network of information that is cyberspace could actually be harnessed and made to work in his favor.

And somewhere, in the lost clubs and skeins of computer code, the idoru is waiting...


Okay, so: this is a book I have a lot of thoughts about, and the plot itself could be summarized in ten words. So behind the cut is a discussion that, while discussing elements in-depth, does not necessarily spoil. Anything that is a big "reveal" or initiates a fundamental change in the book's reading will be spoiler-texted. ( That said, let's roll. )

Final verdict: deeply flawed. Deeply interesting.

Banana Walnut Muffins with Chocolate Chips on Top

The only thing that I like about the summer months is the cheap fresh fruit.

I've taken to making muffins for our breakfast.

I did Ginger Peach this week.

I think the next batch will be Strawberry Kiwi.

First off, I hope everyone knows about lj_2008, where all the decisions on the future of LJ are being made. Basically, a lot has happened in these past few months and LJ has had changes in management and mission. It wants to generate more revenue, which means incorporating ads into LJ's Basic Accounts. Now is the time to vote on where and how you want ads to be placed. If you don't vote now, you'll be in for a shock later when the ads start appearing.

I've finally found a TV show that interests me: PUSHING DAISIES.
It's not like anything I've seen before. It's extremely unique compared to the other trash shows airing on prime time lately (*coughgossipgirlscough*).

What's it about? You'd have to see it for yourself to understand. It's like a fairytale. It's a dramedy. And it's spectacular.

It's about a young boy that discovers that he has a unique ability to bring back the dead with a touch on his fingertip. One thing, he touches them again, they'll fall asleep forever. There is a one minute grace period and if he doesn't touch the dead person again, someone else in the proximity will take his/her place.  That's what happened when the boy tries to revive his loving mother after a heart attack. The person who took her place in death was his childhood sweetheart's father.

 

Now, I did not know this but the sweetheart's name is Chuck. I looked up for the meaning and it says that Chuck means something similar to 'Christ giver' which fits nicely because...

19 years, 14 months, 36 hours, 14 minutes and 32 seconds, the boy becomes a piemaker, sharing his mother's love of baking pies. He later learns that his childhood sweetheart is murdered aboard a cruise ship on a mission to deliver a suitcase containing two ceramic monkeys. Ned, the piemaker is off to go see the situation. An intense urge came up and he revived her from her coffin. She's alive alright... but unfortunately for Ned, even if he has a longing to hug her, he can't.

But you know, this show makes kissing through cellophane wrap so romantic! And it's stunning visuals with vibrant colours!

And wow, I love Emerson. His looks totally deceives you. Who would have known that the big macho detective who's always looking out for any opportunity to get money has a soft side for knitting and pop-up books? I love his snarky remarks too!

Episode 8
Emerson: Your book was a bomb.
Napoleon: Who are you to criticize my life's work?!
Emerson: Your book was a bomb. It exploded.

Episode 2
Emerson: Are you in love with her? 'Cause it's that level of stupid.

Episode 3
Chuck: Isn't that what a P.I. (private investigator) supposed to do? Investigate? Isn't that the fun part?
Emerson: The fun part is counting my money in the bubble bath.

Episode X (Don't remember when)
Emerson: I love you, shovel.

He's such an oddball!

It is done. 

VIVA!

OH MAN.  So, husband called me yesterday from NYC and told me that his flight was super-delayed and he was going to arrive in Seattle during the dreaded Ferry Gap (the ferry to the island doesn't run from 1:30 to 5:40 AM).  So I told him to come to Bellevue, and at 4:00 AM I was awakened from a fairly solid sleep (full of lovely thoughts about the effect of a lawyer's association with a new firm), to which I proved unable to returned.

ANYWAY.  I took the professional  responsibility exam this morning, and I am DONE DONE DONE (unless I failed OMG).  Thanks so much to all of you for your cheerleading over the past five weeks, especially cuglas, who always seems to know the exactly most reassuring thing to say.

YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAYAY!

And so I become a firm believer of the "Jubilee is a skrull" theory.

I really need to catch up on this series.

My life is starting to get really, really, really busy nowadays.. i got lectures to attend on Monday and Thursday, hospital attachment on Tuesday and Wednesday, n lab on Friday. and basically any free time on Monday and Thursday will be spent in the lab too...i barely hav the time to do the QC.. usually i do it while having dinner so if i overlook any mistake, gomen..but i hardly spot any mistake since Aimee usually does perfect sub.. ^^

To those in my F-list, i'm sorry i hardly drop comments on your entries.. i read them, of course..i even couldnt find the time to reply your comments on my entries either.. *sigh* n i guess tiredness is starting to consume my passion for Arashi.. coz i found that i'm not that excited hearing bout Nino's new drama (well, it might hav been worsened by the fact that Toda Erika is in it..i dont *really* like her, ever since i saw her in HYD2)

This is the entry of Maou Episode 3 by sakurai-storm-subs. we could hv released this earlier if not for my hectic life...

- Originally posted at sakurai-storm's Vox -

[sakurai-storm-subs] presents:



Release: Maou - Episode 3 (20080718)

Raw provider: XrayMind@d-addicts

Translator/timer/typesetter/encoding/uploader: sakurai-storm @ Vox

QC checker: Me! Ai-chan the Assistant! XD

Please do not:

- post the download links anywhere else, like in your lj or communities (u can link to this lj instead. i won't lock this entry)
- steal the subtitle/translation
- modify the softsub/hardsub then claim it as yours
- upload to streaming sites (Veoh, YouTube, Crunchyroll, etc). please, don't bother to ask for permission to do it. and please dont bother to ask Aimee or me to upload it there either. if u have any trouble to download or play the files, we will be glad to help u troubleshoot that problem. i dont know why some people still dont get this..i'm using simple English, for god sake
- any other inappropriate things

Download links:

Softsub
MediaFire | ADrive

Font set
MediaFire | ADrive

(font set is needed for the opening theme: just unzip and drag to the Fonts folder in the Control Panel)

Hardsub
MF - 001 | 002 | 003 | 004 | 005 | 006
AD - 001 | 002 | 003 | 004 | 005 | 006
MU - coming soon

A tutorial on how u can download from AD using download manager is available here.

Don't forget to drop by a friendly message or comment at Aimee's vox! ENJOY!!!!! XD

( In which Aki rambles )

Watched only half of Himitsu today because I was at karaoke (a-again), but it was a "TRY NOT TO HIT THE FOOD WITH THE HIGHEST CALORIES" GAME, with Arashi VS Comedians. Love the cowboy hats. *___*

( Ohno's weight is close to mine -- W-WTF BOY )

PS: skipthebeat, I got your message, but I can't reply because of privacy options? XD;;

Shibatora
Episode 3, no subs yet
3rd week's rating: 13.4% (it's rising :D)



( It's a dangerous job! )

Are there words to express the loathing I have for this video? Yes - Thank you, Onion AV CLUB:

Well, at least Urban Outfitters will have a new song to play on loop at all of their locations now, because that's exactly what this song sounds like: background music for a retail chain that specializes in faux-vintage t-shirts.

Natalie Portman, I know you think that you are smart because you went to Harvard. However, I don't know how you got through four years without running into a single person who could tell you that dressing up in blackface and mocking Hindu gods is not okay. Also, sweetie, that video is NOTHING like actual Bollywood. Mmm...'kay?

*sigh* I suppose there will always be that segment of the population who feels that not speaking English simply hilarious.